Evaluating Challenges and Strategic Planning

Introduction:

This intensive five-day course on Evaluating Challenges and Strategic Planning is designed to equip participants with critical skills for evaluating and addressing organizational challenges. The program aims to enhance participants' understanding of methodologies, tools, and best practices in data analysis, strategic planning, and problem-solving.

The course emphasizes the vital role of evaluation and analysis in effective strategic planning. Participants will engage in case studies, and group discussions to gain insights into identifying and overcoming strategic planning issues. Advanced tools for strategic planning analysis, including risk-based analysis methods, will also be covered.

Objectives:

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand how evaluation and analysis contribute to effective strategic planning.
• Identify, evaluate, and prioritize organizational challenges.
• Conduct comprehensive needs assessments using various methods.
• Apply SWOT analysis in strategic planning.
• Develop clear mission and vision statements.
• Set actionable and realistic goals for strategic plans.
• Create strategies and tactics to address organizational challenges.
• Allocate resources effectively and implement strategies.
• Establish a robust monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system.
• Conduct post-implementation evaluations to support continuous improvement.

Training Methodology:

• Interactive Workshops
• Case Study Analysis
• Group Discussions
• Simulation Exercises
• Role-Playing Scenarios
• Hands-On Data Analysis
• Strategy Development Exercises
• Peer Review Sessions
• Real-World Problem Solving
• Evaluation Framework Application
• Feedback and Reflection Sessions

Course Outline:

Unit 1: Understanding Evaluation and Analysis

• Introduction to the course and its objectives
• The importance of evaluation and analysis in strategic planning
• Types of organizational challenges
• Key principles of effective evaluation and analysis
• Methods and techniques for data collection and analysis
• SWOT Analysis
• Analyzing a real-world organizational challenge

Unit 2: Conducting Needs Assessments

• Understanding the concept of needs assessment
• Steps in conducting a needs assessment
• Identifying stakeholders and their roles
• Practical exercise: Conducting a needs assessment
• Data collection methods for needs assessments
• Analyzing and interpreting needs assessment data
• Interpreting a needs assessment report

Unit 3: Strategic Planning Fundamentals

• Introduction to strategic planning
• The strategic planning process
• Setting clear objectives and goals
• Case study: Developing a mission and vision statement
• Identifying strategic priorities
• Developing strategies and tactics
• Creating a strategic plan outline

Unit 4: Implementation and Monitoring

• Implementing the strategic plan
• Allocating resources and responsibilities
• Communicating the plan to stakeholders
• Case study project: Overcoming implementation challenges
• Monitoring progress
• Establishing key performance indicators (KPIs) and benchmarks
• Making adjustments and adaptations
• Monitoring a fictional strategic plan

Unit 5: Evaluation and Continuous Improvement

• The importance of evaluation in the strategic planning cycle
• Types of evaluation: Formative and Summative
• Post-implementation evaluation
• Developing an evaluation plan
• Analyzing evaluation results
• Lessons learned and best practices
• Continuous improvement through post-implementation evaluations
• Refining a strategic plan based on evaluation findings